Newsday:
With Spotlight on Sexual Harassment, Employers Should Take Heed

Cases of sexual harassment have been making headlines on an almost daily basis in recent months. While many of the accounts have involved power players in media, entertainment or politics, they have shined a spotlight on the issue as a whole.

To protect your business, train employees and managers on what constitutes sexual harassment. “A lot of people don’t realize where the line’s crossed,” says Christine Malafi, a partner at Ronkonkoma-based Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, who has advised clients on sexual harassment prevention training.

Following the law is great, but employees need to implement best practices. For example, while employees can socialize, a best practice would be to prohibit supervisors from after-hours, one-on-one socializing with subordinates being considered for a promotion, she says.

Another best practice: Don’t permit sexual innuendo during business discussions. And, of course, both the law and best practices require that there’s never a quid pro quo — an employee can never be asked for sexual favors in return for a job benefit, Malafi says.